Despite a temporary ceasefire, the United Nations and its agencies called for an immediate end to fighting in Sudan and warned that the shortages of essentials are becoming acute in the country.

"A prolonged, full-scale war is unbearable to contemplate," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at a UN Security Council meeting on Sudan on Tuesday, adding that the 10 days of violence and chaos in the country are heartbreaking.

'Fighting must stop immediately'

The power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan is not only putting the country's future at risk, it is lighting a fuse that could detonate across borders, causing immense suffering for years, and setting development back for decades, Guterres said.

"The fighting must stop immediately."

Acknowledging the conflict will not and must not be resolved on the battlefield, Guterres demands the parties to the conflict respect the 72-hour cease-fire and come together to establish a permanent cessation of hostilities.

China's permanent representative to UN Zhang Jun also called on both sides in the conflict to end fighting as soon as possible to avoid further escalation of the situation.

Noting Sudan is an important country in the Horn of Africa, Ambassador Zhang said if the current conflict drags on and escalates, it will inevitably lead to greater spillover risks, which are not in the interests of Sudan and will jeopardize regional peace and stability.

"What is pressing now is to bring the conflict to an end as soon as possible, encourage the parties to the conflict to resolve their differences through dialogue, and bring the political process and economic and social development back on track."

Acute shortages of essentials

The UN humanitarian agency said at the UN meeting that the shortages of essentials are becoming acute in the country, sending prices soaring and evacuees heading for the borders.

Authorities reported that a 72-hour cessation of hostilities went into effect midnight Monday and appeared to be mostly holding Tuesday. "After 10 days of fighting, shortages of food, water, medicines and fuel are becoming extremely acute, especially in Khartoum and surrounding areas," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

"The price of essential items - as well as transport - are skyrocketing."

OCHA said that in Wad Madani, Aj Jazirah state, bordering Khartoum, prices of essential goods increased 40 percent to 100 percent. It also noted that access to health care, including sexual and reproductive health care, is also critically impacted.

The OCHA also said it received reports that civilians continue to flee Khartoum, Northern, Blue Nile, North Kordofan, North Darfur, West Darfur and South Darfur states. People are also crossing borders to surrounding countries.

"We and our partners continue to deliver whenever and wherever feasible," OCHA said.

Fighting broke out in the capital city of Khartoum on April 15 between two factions of the Sudanese military and quickly spread to different areas in the country. Data from the Sudanese Health Ministry said at least 460 people have been killed and more than 4,000 others wounded.

Read more: Sudan's Army-RSF clashes explained

(With input from agencies)